Where Normal Need Not Apply
This past weekend was “contest entering” weekend for me—and I’m not nervous at all. (It’s okay, you don’t have to believe me.) But after several years of writing, this decision to enter a contest was a new one for me. Which of course begs the question, why did I finally decide to do it? There […]
Last time, I mentioned how stories—the good ones anyway—avoid the boring parts of the journey by jumping into the action. Today’s post continues that “skip to the good parts” theme to talk about settings. Setting is the sense of time, place, and mood within a story. Descriptions create a world within the mind of a […]
We’ve all heard the saying: Life is a journey. Often this thought will be accompanied by—enjoy the ride—or something along those lines. And that’s great advice for life. But what about for stories? At the RWA conference, I attended the Inside Scoop workshop with Robin Perini and Claire Cavanaugh. During the workshop, they critiqued opening […]
My blog-home-away-home, Edittorrent, had another thought-provoking post yesterday. You really should go read it, but if you don’t have the time, their point boils down to this: Know what will make you feel like a success as a writer. I think this same idea can apply to just about anyone—not just writers. Know what will […]
A quick note: Today’s the last day to leave a comment on my contest post to win a free book from the RWA registration bags. The deadline to enter is midnight, August 16th. Last week, a friend of mine, Simon C. Larter, interviewed Victoria Mixon, a freelance editor. He asked several great questions (and a […]
First of all, if you weren’t at the RWA conference, check out my contest for a free book from the RWA registration bags. The deadline to enter is midnight, August 16th. So my new RWA-buddy, Roni Loren, posted a great article on her blog about the QueryFest workshop. When I kept finding myself wanting to […]
Woo Hoo! It’s time for my first contest on this blog. I’ll be giving away the book Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran. But first, the answer to your question… Why did I get so many books? Several times at the RWA National Conference, I heard this advice: The best way to determine if your […]
This shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone, but people have asked me about it, so here goes: I’m not perfect. Yep, it’s true. Just because I’m a perfectionist does not mean that I am, in fact, perfect. Far from it to be honest. It only means that I really, really, really want my work […]
I’ve now recovered enough from the RWA National Conference to talk about my experience. *takes deep breath* Er, or not… The word “overwhelming” was invented for experiences like this. I can try to describe it, but I fear I’ll run out of words (a horrifying thought for a writer!). It was fabulous to meet so […]
I leave today for the RWA National Conference in Florida. After weeks of planning, shopping, and packing, and after spending way too much money on airfare and a new wardrobe (my usual Arizona t-shirt and shorts wouldn’t cut it at a professional conference), I find myself wondering if it’s all worth it. The answer is […]